If your iPhone or iPad screen is stuck in portrait or landscape orientation and won't rotate, there are several steps you can take to resolve the issue. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you fix the problem.
Turning Off Orientation Lock on iPhone and iPad
The most common reason for a screen not rotating is the enabled Portrait Orientation Lock or Rotation Lock. Here’s how to disable it:
- For iPhone and iPad without a Home button: Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open the Control Center.
- For iPhone with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to open the Control Center.
- For iPad with iOS 11 and earlier: Double-click the Home button to reveal the App Switcher and the Control Center area on the right, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen for iOS 10 and earlier.
In the Control Center, look for the icon that resembles a lock with a circle around it. If the Portrait Orientation Lock (on iPhone) or Rotation Lock (on iPad) is enabled, this icon will have a white background. Tap on this icon to disable the lock. You will see a "Portrait Orientation Lock: Off" or "Rotation Lock: Off" message at the top of the Control Center.
Restarting the App
If disabling the lock doesn’t resolve the issue, the problem might be with the app you are using. Here’s how to restart the app:
- For devices without a Home button: Swipe up from the Home bar and hold for a second to reveal the App Switcher.
- For devices with a Home button: Double-click the Home button to open the App Switcher.
Locate the app that is not rotating, swipe up on its preview to close it, and then reopen the app from the Home screen. This often resolves issues related to individual apps.
Restarting the iPhone or iPad
If the problem persists across multiple apps, it might be a system issue. Restarting your device can often resolve such problems:
- For devices with a software Home bar: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
- For devices with a Home button: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
Checking the Side Switch on Older Models
For older iPad models with a physical Side Switch, ensure that this switch is not set to lock the screen rotation:
- Go to Settings > General > Use Side Switch To and select either Lock Rotation or Mute. If it is set to lock rotation, toggle the switch to mute or change the setting to mute.
Testing Apps for Rotation Support
Some apps are designed to operate in only one orientation and will not rotate even if the lock is disabled. Check if the issue is specific to certain apps:
- Try opening apps known to support both portrait and landscape modes, such as Safari or Messages. If these apps rotate correctly, the issue might be with the specific app you are using.
Resetting All Settings
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you might need to reset all settings on your device:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset.
- Select Reset All Settings. This will reset your settings but leave your media and data intact.
Factory Reset as a Last Resort
If all else fails, you may need to perform a factory reset, which will erase all personal data and settings:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings. Make sure to back up your data before doing this.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of a screen that won’t rotate on your iPhone or iPad.